Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (Irish) of a man, to pay court to a woman.

1925		L. Mackay Mourne Folk 114: ‘D’ye think, Thomas, wud Miss O’Hara ‘face?’’ said John [...] ‘Ye know as well as me she’s long past her market.’.
1983		W.F Marshall ‘Me an’ Me Da’ in Livin’ in Drumlister 33: Yo Bridget I went back, / An’ faced her for it that night week.

2. (US campus, also face down) to outperform, to correct, to show up, to humiliate, to insult.

1952		W.R. Burnett Little Men, Big World 79: He’d face down Old Horny himself.
1971		B. Malamud Tenants (1972) 121: If you gon fuck black you gon face black.
1982		Eble Campus Sl. Spring 3: face – to take advantage of; to embarrass.
1999		Indep. Rev. 9 Aug. 4: Does Stothard have the bottle to face him down?
2001		N. Barlay Hooky Gear 265: Hes sittin there vex as fuck, facin me down.